Piston inserting tool



DeC- 28, 1954 G. F. zUcKr-:R

PIsToN INSERTING TooL 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 25 1950 Dec. 28, 1954G, F, ZUCKER 2,697,870

PISTON INSERTING TOOL Filed May 23, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "l I A Il"Tj?! 5@ L mi 71- JNVENTOR.

y I 35 OL/Zade g@ im i4 i@ United States Patent O PISTON INSERTING TOOLGottlieb F. Zucker, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 23, 1950, Serial No. 163,596

Claims. (Cl. 29-222) This invention relates to tools of the type adaptedfor use in compressing piston rings to facilitate the insertion of apiston into a cylinder block, such for example as in an engine or apump.

In certain types of engines, pumps and the like the piston rings may bevery thin and consequently hard to handle. Often two or more such ringsare spaced in each piston groove thus making it still more difficult tohandle the rings. Such rings are, as is generally customary with nearlyall piston rings, rotated relative to one another so that the gaps arenot aligned and hence there is less tendency for the sharp edges of therings adjacent the gaps to wear a groove in the cylinder wall and toallow fluid to escape through the gaps. Due to the nonalignment of thegaps, it is necessary to apply uniform radial pressure to the ringsproperly to seat them in the piston grooves.

An object of this invention is the provision of a piston ringcompressing tool for use with pistons of dierent sizes and having acontinuous arcuate body section with a plurality of converging tinesdepending therefrom with the body section and tines being integral andof uniform thickness, there being means for adjusting the convergence ofthe tines to yaccommodate pistons of variant sizes.

A further object of this invention is a piston ring compressing toolhaving a continuous arcuate body portion and a plurality of converginglingers or tines depending therefrom, and a band of adjustablecircumference encircling said tines and supported by struck-out portionson certain of said tines to vary the convergence of said tines and thusaccommodate pistons of a plurality of different sizes.

In many engines, pumps and the like the top surface of the cylinderblock adjacent each cylinder is uniform and at. In such cases the tinesof my piston ring compressing tool as set forth in the foregoing objectsare of unit form length and the tool is readily placed upright on thetop of the cylinder block in axial alignment with a cylinder to insert apiston.

In other types of engines the top of the cylinder block is recessedadjacent a portion of the circumference of each cylinder to provideinlet or exhaust ports. In such case if the tines are of uniform lengthsome of them are maintained above the recessed portion of the cylinderblock and each piston ring is released before it is completely insertedin the cylinder. Additionaly, it is diillcult to position the toolproperly in upright position in axial alignment with the cylinder. Forengines, pumps and the like of this character it is within thecontemplation of my invention that certain of the tines should be longerthan the majority to llt within a recess or additional tines should beprovided and means should be provided to lock the tines in position withtheir extremities projecting be yond the extremities of the other tines.

An object of this invention is the provision of a piston insertion toolhaving a body portion and a plurality of relatively converging tinesdepending therefrom wherein certain of the tines are of greater lengththan others to permit positioning of the tool atop a recessed cylinderblock and gripping of piston rings until they enter the cylinder.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a piston ringinsertion tool having a body portion and a plurality of spaced aparttines depending therefrom wherein longitudinally adjustable auxiliarytines are received in the spaces between certain of the aforementionedtines and means is provided for locking the auxiliary tines ini42,697,870 Patented Dec. 28, 1954 longitudinally adjusted positionextending beyond the lirst mentioned tines whereby the tool may beplaced atop a cylinder block having a recessed portion adjacent acylinder to exert a compressing action on piston rings until each ringis inserted in the cylinder. Other and further objects and advantages ofthe present invention will be apparent from the following descriptionwherein:

Fig. l is a perspective View showing my piston insertion tool prior toinsertion of the piston;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the same apparatus showing apiston being inserted;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bottom portion of a tineshowing the struckout detent for supporting the adjusting clamping ring;

Fig. 6 shows a tube to be used in manufacturing my piston insertiontool;

Fig. 7 indicates how'the tube may be formed;

Fig. 8 shows how a set is imparted to the tines by the insertion of aconical mandrel;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modied tool wherein three of thedepending tines are longer than the others;

Fig. l0 is a partial axial sectional view of the modified tool inposition atop the cylinder block;

Fig. ll is a perspective view showing the first form of the pistoninsertion tool with auxiliary tines locked in position and dependingtherefrom; and

Fig. l2 is a fragmentary axial sectional view of the tool of Fig. llshown in position atop a cylinder block.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figs. l-4, the firstembodiment Vof my piston insertion tool 14 comprises a centralcontinuous cylindrical body portion 16 having a plurality of diverging,spaced apart upstanding tines 18 integral with and extending upwardlytherefrom. A plurality of spaced apart tines 2l) are integral with thebody portion 16 and dependent therefrom. The tines 20 are pressed orpreset to diverge slightly and are brought into parallel or convergingrelation by aband 22 of variable circumference encircling them. Thisband, as best seen in Fig. 3, has an outwardly directed ear 24 at oneend thereof. The outermost portion 26 of the ear 24 is deflectedrearwardly for a purpose soon to be described. The second end of theband 22 underlies and is overlapped by the portion of the bandimmediately adjacent the ear 24 and a portion of the band is directedoutwardly and then again inwardlynear the second end to form an ear 28spaced from the ear 24. Aligned aper tures are provided in the ears 24and 28 and a threaded bolt 30 is placed through these apertures and hasa square nut 32 threaded on the end thereof. The reversely bent portion26 at the extremity of the ear 24 prevents rotation of the nut 32. Asthe bolt 30 is threaded further into the nut 32, the ears 24 andv 28 aredrawn toward one another to provide a radially uniform clamping force onthe tines 20 directing them into parallel or converging relation.

When the bolt is backed part way from the nut so that the ring 22 tsloosely about the tines 20, the ring is prevented vfrom slipping fromthe tines by a plurality of struck-out detents 34. In the illustratedembodiment there are a plurality of depending tines 20 and sections aredeflected from the plane of certain of these tines in spaced relationnear the bottom thereof to form the detents 34 extending outwardly` andthen upwardly from the tines 20. The top edges of the detents underlieand engage the bottom edge of the ring 22 to support it.

In Fig. l the piston insertion tool 14 is shown spaced above aconventional cylinder 36 in a cylinder block 38 while in Fig. 2 the toolis shown abutting the block in axial alignment with the cylinder 36. Apiston 40 of any approved construction has a plurality of grooves 42 inwhich are placed piston rings 44. As best may be seen in Fig. l therings are rotated relative to one another so that the gaps in the ringsare not aligned. As shown in Fig. *1J* the rings extend outwardlysomewhat from the walls of the piston 40 and must be forced inwardly tofit within the cylinder 36. As the piston is forced downwardly throughthe piston insertion tool 14 the tines 1 8,

which 'ar'e somewhat resilient but rather stii, force the lrings 44fur-ther -into vthe grooves 42 -so that the loutside -nally preset so.as y-to diverge slightly. The circumference :of the band 22 is decreased-by threading xthe bolt 3) :further linto `the lnut V32- ya's mentionedheretofore to draw the t-ines y yinto parallel or converging relation:so that the circular area defined by 'the 'bottom Iof the tines 210-coincides exactly with the top of 'the cylinder -36 as shown `in Figs.21and 4. Thus as -a piston 40 is forced ydownwardly the toolg14f-thevringsare progressively compressed into the grooves 42 until eachlringreaches the bottom of the tool at which -poi-n't its externaldiameter coincides with the internaldiameter of the cylinder 36 and the'-ring slides smoothly into the cylinder. As may be seen in yFig. 2,ythe Lsquare bottom ends yon the Vtines -2'0 fit iiush against the topof the cylinder block 38 so Ethat each ring i4-'is gripped by the tines-until -it is-completely Within the cylinder 36.

Although a single piston ring insertion tool as lherein disclosed isvcapable of vuse with ypistons of several dif- 'ferent sizes, pistonsvary sufficiently in size that it is impossible to -use a single toolfor all pistons. Thus the diameters of pistonring tools must vary vovera considerable range. This makes it 'necessary to vary the number orwidth of lthe tines or the spacing between them. Unless a very largenumber of piston -insertion tools -of agiven-size are to be produced, glprefer Vnot to lstamp out my tool from a single iiat blank, but to formvthe tines individually as set forth immediately hereinafter.

The blank which is to be `operated on is inthe 'form of a tube 46 whichis cut finto sections Ias Vindicated 4by the dotted lines 48. The t-ub'e46l may bea length of commercial tubing, preferably ofV the `seamlesstype, or ymay be formedfrom a iiat 'metal sheet 5G (-Fig. l7) rolledinto a cylinder 52 as lindicated in dotted lines and vbutt welded alongadjoining edges. The tube or cylinder is then cut'to the `overall lengthdesired'for a piston insertion tool 14 and the `tines 18 yand 20 areformed one at a vtime by the use of a single punch to stamp outsuccessive vvslots between the tines.

The several 'lugs or detents 34 forfho'ld-ing-the adjusting ring or band22 are then stamped `from the T tines 2i) by successive operations witha single punch.

Following the `forming of the tines -and of the band securing de'tents,the upper tines are bent outwardly into diverging relation byrpressingVthe upper end of the tool onto a Iconical --mandrel 54 as shown in Fig.8. AThe piston insertion tool is `then case hardened to prevent unwanteddeformation `in use and to provide a working surface which, willnotquickly `be worn out. The case hardeningtends to Vdistort the pistoninsertion too1,par

ticularly Ythe longer lower tines, which then must be In the hammeringoperastraightening by hammering. tion the lower tines are caused to areslightly outwardly so that theymay beten'sion'ed -int'o'parallel orconverging relation as 'desired by theband 22. The entire internal boreof the tool 'then is machined to make it 'absolutely 'true and 'to size,leaving 'the body portions and tines of uniform thickness.

In Figs. 9 and l0 there is shown a modiiied'fo'rm of the invention foruse with cylinder blocks having a recessed portion. In thisform vof theinvention the body portion 1.6, upward tines 18, certain of the lowertines 20 and the adjusting band or ring -22 ofthe modified pistoninsertion tool 14a are identical with those heretofore disclosed and aresimilarly numbered. The essential differen'ce resides in a plurality oftines 20a, herein illustrated as three tines, which extend apredetermined distance below the remainingtines 20. As in theprevious-formof the inventionthe tines 20 rest atop la cylinder-block-38 `and are ldrawn in by the `ring 22 to have v"fthesarrieinternal diamet'eras-that of ya cylinder 36. The

-elongated 'tines `2G51 iit within a recess 56 i'n the upperlface"o"r`the cylinder block vw'contiguous with the cylinder`36, 'therecess-56 being provided as an inl'etforpassageWay. *As maybe seeninFig. 10, the lower'squared ends ofthe elongated Ttines 20a iit flushagainstthe top face of the recess in thesarnel'ma'n'ner that the tines2i) -dra'vvn in `to have the same internal diameter as -the 22.iDete'nts 334 `'similar to those heretofore 'described 4gressivelycompressed in a desired manner.

4 are struck out of certain of the tines 20 and 20a to support theadjusting -band or ring 22.

It is not necessary to have a special piston insertion tool as shown inFigs. 9 and 10 for cylinder blocks having recesses. A form of myinvention for use with this type of cylinder block is shown in Figs. 1land l2 wherein the piston insertion tool 14 is identical with thatoriginally described having a 'central cylindrical body portion 16,upstanding slightly diverging ytines 18, depending tines 20 andan`adjusting =band or ring 22 supported by detents 34. vTo fit within the.recess 56 of the cylinder block 30a and abut `against -its top face,there is provided a plurality ,of auxiliary tines 58 of suitable widthto iit between adjacent tines 20. The auxiliary tines 5S are offsetoutwardly fat yto provide rupper shank portions 62 lying flush againstthe outer surface of the cylindrical body portion 16. The upper ends ofthe auxiliary tines are bent outwardly to form handles 64 by which theyAmay be raised or lowered. A clamping ring or band 66 similar inconstruction to the band 22 ypreviously disclosed is Iprovided Vforencircling 'thec-ylindrical ybody porembodiment, litwithin the recessl56 and 'iiush against its face so that piston lrings maybe compressedto have the sarne `external diameter as the .internal diameter of thecylinder 36 until yeach ring is entirely within the cylinder.

The'converginglrelation of the upper tines `18 moving from theirfreeendstowards 'the body section along with their slight resiliency Yenablesthe piston ring insertion tool Iherein disclosed to accommodate pistonsof variant sizes while insuring `that the piston -rings will be pro-'Final adjustment of the rings vto the exact diameter of lthe cylinderin which they are Abeing inserted is'brought about by the vlowertines 20forced into Vthe proper diameter by the adjusting band or 'ring '22. Duetothe slight outward liar-ing ofthe lower tines, theband 22 is tightabout them even when the 'tines are held parallel defining a cylindersimilar to that defined bythe central body portion 16 so that the band`22 cannot move accidentally 'from its de- 'siredposition andthe tinescannot spring outwardly to al'low'the piston rings to assume improperdiameters.

it is'obvious that `various changes maybe made in the specificembodiments set 'forth herein without departing from the'spirit andscope o'f the invention.k The invention is accordingly not to belimitedto these specific embodiments, Vbut 'only Vas indicated in the"following claims.

'i claim:

l. A tool to Ifacilitate insertion of .a piston carrying ringsorthe'like into a cylinder, and comprising a sleeve member having aiixed predetermined-diameter adapted to embrace the Ypiston andasso'ciatedrings, a plurality of elongatedresilient nge'rs projecting ina `generally axial directionfrorn one end of the sleeve and initiallypreset 'to 'normally 'flare outwardly from the periphery of said sleexemember, aclamping'band'spacedfrom said sleeve member -and embracingsaidresilient fingers adjacent the 'free ends thereof Sfor uniformlypressingsaid fingers inwardly 'under/compression to operative positionwhere said'fing'ers deiinean internal diameternot'exceeding the'diameter of said sleeve member, adjusting'means securing fingersareiitted'in the spaces Vformed between ,adjacent of said rst namedlingers for selective vertical adjustment, -and -wherein clamping vmeansis fengageable with said radditional -fing'ers `to maintain the same inadjusted position.

`'4. ltoolas-claimedin' claim S, wherein saidfadditional:fingershave'the'upperportions thereofv offset outwardlyfto 'overliesaid sleeve member, and wherein thesaid` clamping means engages theoiset portions of the lingers to clamp the same against said sleevemember.

5. A tool as claimed is claim 4, wherein the offset upper portions ofthe additional ngers are provided with outwardly projecting handlemembers to facilitate adjustment thereof.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number(5 Name Date McManus Dec. 6, 1910 Monckmeier Feb. 8, 1921 Cady Aug. 8,1922 Gillis July 7, 1925 Grimes Aug. 4, 1925 Kearney Peb. 9, 1926 PhelpsJuly 20, 1926 Brown Dec. 27, 1927 Cunliff Jan. 10, 1928 Weatherhead Aug.13, 1940 Maire Jan. 4, 1944

